Realising the Bergenpad walkway
The Fens parking area on the Keizersgracht in the city centre of Eindhoven was an extremely urbanised area with little and decidedly unattractive green vegetation. The business people in the city’s De Bergen district wanted to have a better connection for pedestrians with the city centre’s main shopping area. A green corridor was the answer. By expanding the green areas considerably in the form of hedges, flowerbeds and a common area with a bicycle parking area, the project would ensure a better connection between the two shopping areas, whilst additionally improve heat resistance, and provide natural rainwater storage.
Results
The result of this project, with the cooperation and co-financing of businesses in the city centre, is a beautiful, central urban area with a considerable reduction in parked cars, an expansion of bicycle parking, and space for relaxation and meeting friends in a green environment in which historical features are highlighted. Because large investments were made in green vegetation, the result fits in beautifully with the city’s ambition of making the city centre more climate-resilient. There is now more space for natural rainwater storage and the newly planted hedges provide protected breeding sites for birds. The project has also created a beautiful green corridor as a pedestrian connection between the main shopping area and the district De Bergen, a multifaceted area with a balanced mix of homes, retail shops, cafes and restaurants.
Fens parking area before (left) and after (middle, right) the Bergenpad walkway project.
Contact person
Eddy Steenkamp
Gemeente Eindhoven
+31(0)6 - 51 57 14 39
e.steenkamp@eindhoven.nl